VIPs on stage together with TeamSG swimmers at the AYPG 2021 Awards and Appreciation Ceremony on 20/2/22. Photo Credit : Singapore National Paralympic Council
NTUC FairPrice Foundation will support the Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC)’s Asian Youth Para Games (AYPG) Awards scheme through the provision of cash awards for medals won by Singaporean athletes at the AYPG.
NTUC FairPrice Foundation has committed its support for this scheme through to the Tashkent 2025 AYPG. This was announced at the AYPG 2021 Awards and Appreciation Ceremony held at One Farrer Hotel, where athletes, officials, key stakeholders and supporters, came together to celebrate the achievements of the Team Singapore contingent for the Bahrain 2021 AYPG. The event was graced by Guest of Honour Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law.
Mr Edwin Tong (Minister for Culture, Community & Youth), together with athletes and guests for a candid shot. Photo Credit : SNPC
Team Singapore’s 13 athletes at the Bahrain 2021 AYPG secured Singapore’s second-best showing at the AYPG, winning 5 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals at the fourth edition of the Games. Singapore’s total medal haul of 10 medals is the second-most number of medals any Team Singapore contingent has won at the AYPG.
6 Team Singapore Bahrain 2021 AYPG medallists received a total of $3,600, with cash awards sponsored by NTUC FairPrice Foundation. Swimmer Colin Soon was Team Singapore’s standout performer, winning four gold medals in four events and was the top earner, banking $1,500 for his stellar performance at the Games.
Boccia athlete Aloysius Gan, who was Team Singapore’s flag bearer at the Bahrain 2021 AYPG, was rewarded with a cheque of $800 for his individual gold medal (BC3 Men’s Individual) and his silver medal won alongside compatriot Yan Jia Yi (BC3 Mixed Pairs). Paddler Caleb Lee, who teamed up with athletes from Kuwait and the Philippines to win silver in the Men's Mixed Team T6-8 Event, was awarded $300. Swimmer Darren Chan took home $400 in recognition of his two bronze medals. Boccia athlete Yan Jia Yi and sprinter Siti Nurhayati Binte Ali Aksar Khan received $300 each for the silver medals they won.
"We continue to support and rally behind Team Singapore’s youth para athletes in cheering them on. They have performed remarkably at the Bahrain 2021 AYPG and done Singapore proud. It is thus important for us to recognise their efforts and nurture their potential.
FairPrice Foundation has been a strong advocate in community building and empowering persons with disabilities through sports. This partnership with SNPC reaffirms our commitment. I wish all our youth para athletes every success in their sporting journey ahead,”said Mr Seah Kian Peng, Group Chief Executive Officer, FairPrice Group.
“I feel happy to be appreciated and to be rewarded for my performances at the Bahrain 2021 AYPG. This is just the start of what I have set out to achieve and I am focused on achieving my goal of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. I dedicate the award to my family, friends, loved ones, coach and everyone who has supported me. I hope that more persons with disabilities are encouraged to give sports a try and to lead an active, healthy lifestyle,” said Colin Soon.
“We are proud of our athletes for their performances at the Bahrain 2021 AYPG. For the majority, this was their first-ever exposure to a multi-sport event and the start of their sporting journey. This experience will spur our athletes on and we hope that they form the core of our next generation of athletes as they aspire to make the step up to represent Singapore at the other major games. We welcome NTUC FairPrice Foundation and thank them for being a part of the AYPG Awards scheme, ensuring that our youth athletes are rewarded for their achievements. SNPC relies on many stakeholders as partners in sport and with continued support, are confident that Team Singapore will experience success on the international stage. We look forward to a busy year ahead and to many more achievements by our athletes”, said A/Prof Teo-Koh Sock Miang, Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC) President.
The AYPG Awards scheme runs independently and is separate from the SNPC’s Athletes’ Achievement Awards (AAA), which is awarded to outstanding para athletes who have excelled and medalled at the major para games, such as the ASEAN Para Games, Asian Para Games, Commonwealth Games or Paralympic Games.
This is Team Singapore’s second largest contingent to the AYPG, behind the Dubai 2017 AYPG, where Singapore was represented by 28 athletes across five sports. Team Singapore took home a record total of 18 medals (5 gold, 6 silver and 7 bronze) at the Dubai 2017 AYPG.